Shooting Target with Integrated Stake

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a shooting target in the form of a single sheet of wood or other material that is substantially flat and comprised of a body portion and a pointed portion at the bottom end. In many embodiments the body portion has a cut that extends most or all the way through the thickness of the material. The cut may be in any shape and may not connect one end of the cut to the other such that a small piece of material is left, creating the bridge. Two key elements to most embodiments of the invention herein are the point on the lower end and the cut that creates the bridge. The bridge is present in many embodiments, in other embodiments there is not a cut and the piece is one single piece in any shape with the point at its lower end.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS & CONTINUITY DATA

N/A

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Target shooting is very common and popular type of sportsmanship and is done recreationally, competitively, and as preparatory tool for other sporting endeavors. Targets need to be affixed to something to shoot them. These structures or back drop apparatus add complexity to the endeavor and are not always available depending on the location.

This invention makes a target and or a reactive target out of a singular rigid material, in some embodiments wood, with a stake integrated into the bottom. The target may be simply pushed into the ground of any penetrable surface, and therefore eliminating the need for any additional structure to hold the target. If people are going to shoot a target they must find something to attach the target to. People will use old pallets, boards and other unstable structures. People will also use trees which can kill the tree.

Targets are typically made of paper, corrugated board, or plastic and require an additional structure of wood or metal to hold the target. These holding apparatus can be very expensive. This invention herein requires no additional hardware as it has a stake integrated into the shape. Target stands can be expensive and heavy for the shooter to haul around. With this invention no structure is needed to mount the target. The target is self mountable. The shooter pushes the target into the ground and is ready to shoot.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to targets and shooting, riflery, or shooting accessories.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed is a shooting target in the form of a single sheet of wood or other material that is substantially flat and comprised of a body portion and a pointed portion at the bottom end. In many embodiments the body portion has a cut that extends most or all the way through the thickness of the material. The cut may be in any shape and may not connect one end of the cut to the other such that a small piece of material is left, creating the bridge. Two key elements to most embodiments of the invention herein are the point on the lower end and the cut that creates the bridge. The bridge is present in many embodiments, in other embodiments there is not a cut and the piece is one single piece in any shape with the point at its low end.

In preferred embodiments the bridge is located at or near the center of any particular shape transposed upon the surface, for example a circle as shown in FIG. 3, right most target, the circumference of which is made up in part by the cut in the body portion (see elements B-D of the middle target in FIG. 3). The remainder of the circumference of this circle (or other shape) may be indicated by painted, drawn, etched, chiseled, filed or other indicative means, such that a circle or other shape is visually represented and the bridge component falls in the central of said shape.

The design scheme creates a reactive target, such that when struck by a projectile in the center at the bridge the interior area of the cut falls out, indicating a “bull's-eye” shot, as shown in the center, element A of FIG. 3. Further when the interior area of the cut, or any other portion of the body of piece is hit but the bridge is not hit the projectile passes through the material leaving a hole but does not knock out the interior portion of the cut.

The basic structure may be altered, decorated, added to, or augmented in any number of ways to create a display. The face, or display portion, of the wood or other material may be printed by methods such as digital printing, silkscreen, or laser etched and other methods recognizable by those skilled in the art.

The target piece may be made of any suitable material such as wood, recycled wood, metal, aluminum, plastic or other polymers as well as any material that may not fracture or splinter when penetrated by a projectile. Preferred embodiments include use of a HDF fiberboard. Such materials are ideal with the current disclosure as it produces distinct holes for every projectile that passes through the target, versus a large, splintered, or indistinct blow out area in the target making it difficult to discern the exact position or entry point individual projectile when in a group of closely aligned holes or punctures. The targets may be used with any type of projectiles, including but not limited to shooting, rifles, pistols, rim fire, air gun and more then used anywhere simply by driving them into the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the basic design elements of most embodiments of the targets described herein.

FIG. 2 shows a non-exhaustive list of examples of possible cut patterns, variations of the cut pattern C of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a reactive target with multiple cuts vertically aligned, demonstrating an example of the numerous design schemes possible with the basic elements described herein.

FIG. 4 on the left shows a larger piece with multiple cuts of various sizes, again exemplifying the many embodiments possible with the current invention. On the right, the same piece is shown with display designs added.

FIG. 5 shows examples of the various target designs and layouts stuck into the ground.

FIG. 6 shows one target, in this case the woodchuck design, after being hit with 3 bullets or projectiles and the type of hole or artifact that i created due to the nature of the target material. In this case HDF wood fiberboard.

FIG. 7 shows the width, height, and depth (or thickness) dimensions of the target for reference purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows the basic design elements of most embodiments of the targets described herein. In the upper left, shown is a generic target with the essential components shown, namely the body of the target with a pointed downward protrusion for inserting into a penetrable surface and a cut that creates the bridge. The bottom left shows the basic non-reactive target design without a cut. Right, the bridge is shown within circle D. E is the interior area within the cut pattern C. A refers to the body of the target piece and B is the downward protrusion.

FIG. 2 shows a non-exhaustive list of examples of possible cut patterns, i.e., variations of the cut pattern C of FIG. 1. Note each cut pattern creates a bridge portion where the two opposite ends of the cut do not make a full connection. The cuts are performed through the thickness of the target piece. In most embodiments the cut extends the entire depth of the piece, however a similar function may be accomplished by cutting a substantial majority of the way through, leaving a thin layer of material but still allowing for the reactive target function such that a projectile hitting the bridge pops out the cut pattern.

FIG. 3 shows a reactive target with multiple cuts vertically aligned, demonstrating an example of the numerous design schemes possible with the basic elements described herein. Moving from left to right, the basic piece is show with the cut pattern, next is the same piece with color added to the interior portion of the cut creating the bulls-eye center, and on the far right a fully decorated piece with cuts is shown as it would be stuck in the ground for use. In the middle piece, A shows the interior of the cut removed, as happens with the bridge is hit and severed by a projectile.

FIG. 4 on the left shows a larger piece with multiple cuts of various sizes, again exemplifying the many embodiments possible with the current invention. On the right, the same piece is shown with display designs added. Note the bridge component falls in the center of the individual display designs thus enabling the knockout function of the reactive target when the bulls-eye is hit.

FIG. 5 shows examples of the various target designs and layouts stuck into the ground.

FIG. 6 shows one target, in this case the woodchuck design, after being hit with 3 bullets or projectiles, Note the clean holes created by the bullets passing through the target as enabled by the non-splintering wood design. No splintering or blow out occurs despite their close proximity to one another. In this case, the target a non-reactive target embodiment, not having the cut or bridge elements, however the performance of the wood or other material would be the same regarding the clean and precise nature of the holes.

FIG. 7 shows the width, height, and depth (or thickness) dimensions of the target for reference purposes.

Disclosed are embodiments comprising a shooting target in the form of a single sheet of wood or other material that is substantially flat and comprised of a body portion and a pointed portion at the bottom end. The invention in many embodiments may be made out of a single piece of material, such as wood, plastic, metal or otherwise. The wood or other material may be milled, die-cut, hang crafted, or laser cut into desired shape. The face of the wood or other material may be decorated, designed, or printed by methods such as digital printing, silkscreen, or laser etched among others that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The body portion, which may take on any shape, may have one or more protrusions located at the bottom, an extension of the main face, wherein the protrusions have a point at the bottom. The protrusions and point, or the pointed portion, act as a stake to push into the ground or any penetrable surface. The body portion may be in any shape as may be the bottom portion provided it is substantially pointed inserting into the ground or other surface. The body portion may be shaped and designed, drawn upon, etched, or painted or otherwise decorated in any manner.

In many embodiments the body portion has a cut that extends most or all the way through the depth or thickness of the material (see to left of FIG. 1). The cut may be in any shape and in most embodiments does not connect one end of the cut to the other such that a small piece of material is left (as shown in FIG. 1, or the cuts shown in the FIG. 2). This small piece of material or “bridge” (D in FIG. 1), connects the “interior zone” of the cut (element E in FIG. 1) to the main body of the wood piece as show in the figures herein.

Two key elements to most embodiments of the invention herein are the point on the lower end and the cut that creates the bridge. The bridge is present in many embodiments, in other embodiments there is not a cut and the piece is one single piece in any shape with the point at its lower end. See FIG. 1.

In preferred embodiments the bridge is located at or near the center of a particular shape which may be transposed upon the surface, for example a circle as shown in FIG. 3, the circumference of which is made up in part by the cut in the body portion. The remainder of the circumference of this circle (or other shape) may be indicated by painted, drawn, etched, chiseled, filed or any other indicative means, such that a circle or other shape is visually represented and the bridge component falls in the central of said shape. See the right hand target of FIGS. 3 and 4 for example.

The design scheme creates a reactive target, such that when struck by a projectile in the center at the bridge the interior area of the cut falls out, indicating a “bull's-eye” shot, as shown in FIG. 3, element A. Further, when the interior area of the cut, or any other portion of the body of piece is hit but the bridge is not hit the projectile passes through the material leaving a hole but does not knock out the interior portion of the cut.

The basic structure may be altered, decorated, added to, or augmented in any number of ways to create a display. The face, or display portion, of the wood of other material may be printed by methods such as digital printing, silkscreen, or laser etched and other methods recognizable by those skilled in the art. The display may comprise a series of shapes and individual targets (see FIG. 4 for example), or may be in the shape of a desired target, or may be printed with various designs. Numerous examples will be apparent to those skilled in the art and include but are not limited to mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, insects, cartoon characters, caricatures, celebrities, primate or human shapes, symbols, numbers, targets, gophers, prairie dogs, rabbits, woodchucks, crows, bottles, cans, machines, vehicles, plants or vegetation, edifices, famous marks, or any other design of interest for target use or entertainment in use as a shooting target. The many variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and the disclosure herein and range of possible embodiments of the invention herein is not meant to be limited by any specific list.

The thickness of the wood piece may vary, however in preferred embodiments is between 1/16 of an inch and ½ of an inch, however may also be from 1/32 of an inch and 5 inches. Additionally, the thickness may be more or less as desired according to the caliber of projectile used with the target. However, in preferred embodiments the target and the reactive target function properly as described herein regardless of the caliber of the projectile. The height and width may be any range of values creating a target that is very small (inches) or very large (tens of feet) in any shape, design, or resemblance.

Further alternative embodiments may include a single piece as described in other parts herein however utilizing a curved surface, a rounded design, or otherwise curving or warping the flat structure described elsewhere. Some embodiments may include a plastic or metal pipe, either in whole or half into half pipes, with the cuts made into the pipe as described for the flab embodiments herein.

The target piece may be made of any suitable material. Particular embodiments includes wood, recycled wood, metal, aluminum, plastic or other polymers as well as any material that may not fracture or splinter when penetrated by a projectile.

Preferred embodiments include use of a HDF fiberboard. Such material is useful as it has no grain, thus when a projectile passes through it the material does not splinter and leaves behind holes substantially resembling the shape of the projectile as it passed through the board. See FIG. 6. In general, Hardboard, or high-density fiberboard (HDF), is a type of fiberboard, Which is an engineered wood product. It is similar to particleboard and medium-density fiberboard, but is denser and much stronger and harder as it is made out of exploded wood fibers that have been highly compressed. Consequently, the density of hardboard may be 31 lbs. or more per cubic foot (500 kg/m³) and may be about 50-65 lbs, per cubic foot (800-1040 kg/m³). It differs from particle board in that the bonding of the wood fibers requires no additional materials although resin is often added but need not be required. Unlike particle board, it will not split or crack. The Hardboard may be produced in either a wet or dry process, where the wet process leaves only one smooth side while the dry processed hardboard is smooth on both sides. The variations in HDF fiberboard will be recognized by those skilled in the art and are not limited by any set of specifications given herein.

Such materials are ideal with the current disclosure as it produces distinct holes for every projectile that passes through the target, versus a large, splintered, or indistinct blow out area in the target making it difficult to discern the exact position or entry point of an individual projective when in a group of closely aligned holes or punctures. The ability to discern holes or punctures from different projectiles in a closely aligned group is very desirable in the art, for example when “sighting-in” in a particular weapon, precision shooting, or competitions. The targets may be used with any type of projectiles or shooting anywhere simply by driving them into the ground.

The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment; however, it may. The terms “comprising,” “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise. The following illustrations of various embodiments use particular terms by way of example to describe the various embodiments, but this should be construed to encompass and provide for terms such as “method” and “routine” and the like.

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

The characteristics and utilities of the present invention described in this summary and the detailed description below are not all inclusive. Many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art given the following description. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

In this respect, by explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the description. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the description be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. The characteristics and utilities of the present invention described in this summary and the detailed description below are not all inclusive. Many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art given the detailed description. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shooting target comprising: a single piece of non-splintering material, with a pointed protrusion extending downward; and a visual display inked, painted, stained, etched, carved, cut, attached, glued, or drawn on the surface of the target piece.
 2. The target of claim 1, wherein a cut if made along the width and height of the target, the cut extending most or all of the way through the depth of the target, and the cut made such that the two opposite ends of said cut approach but do not connect to each other and an area of the target between the two cut ends remains to form a bridge component
 3. The target of claim 1 wherein the target is comprised of wood metal, aluminum, tin, or plastic.
 4. The target of claim 3, wherein the wood is HDF fiberboard.
 5. The target of claim 4, wherein the depth is between 1/32 and 3 inches.
 6. The target of claim 5, wherein the height is between 3 inches and 20 feet, and the width is between 1 inch and 100 feet.
 7. The target of claim 6, wherein the target is in the approximate shape of one of either a mammal, reptile, bird, fish, insect, cartoon character, a caricature, a celebrities, a primate, a human, a symbol, a numbers, a target, a gopher, a prairie dog, a rabbit, a woodchuck, a crow, a bottle, a can, a machine, a vehicle, a plant, a vegetable, an edifice, or a famous mark.
 8. The target of claim 2 wherein the target is comprised of wood, metal, aluminum, tin, or plastic.
 9. The target of claim 8, wherein the wood is HDF fiberboard.
 10. The target of claim 9, wherein the depth is between 1/32 and 3 inches.
 11. The target of claim 11, wherein the height is between 3 inches and 20 feet, and the width is between 1 inch and 100 feet.
 12. The target of claim 11, wherein the cut design is in the approximate style of one selected from those shown in FIG.
 2. 13. The target of claim 12, wherein the target is in the approximate shape of one of either a mammal, reptile, bird, fish, insect, cartoon character, a caricature, a celebrities, a primate, a human, a symbol, a numbers, a target, a gopher, a prairie dog, a rabbit, a woodchuck, a crow, a bottle, a can, a machine, a vehicle, a plant, a vegetable, an edifice, or a famous mark. 